Top Ten Backpacking Trips in the U.S.
Backing the Western Continental Divide
What makes for a great backpacking trip? Certainly, great scenery is a must. An element of adventure always helps too. While there’s definitely something inspirational about a walk in the wild, some of the finest trips in the country can be done in a few days. All but one of the hikes on this list are under 50 miles. Another factor that truly matters is the wilderness experience: All 10 are in national parks or wilderness areas.
I’ve only done one of these hikes - The Grand Canyon. I compiled the list below from my own wish list and cross-referencing other experts around the internet.
The Wonderland Trail encircles Mount Rainier in a 93-mile trek through forests and valleys into regions above the tree line. With so much elevation gain and loss throughout this hike, it is considered to be a strenuous journey.
There are so many stunning hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park that choosing just one was tricky! Thunder Lake is one of the lesser-traveled cirques in the park, so it is the right mix of solitude and adventure.
I did this one 10 years ago. When hiking the Grand Canyon’s Rim to Rim, you can plan on a four-day trip. The Rim to Rim trail is 24 miles long. We did the Rim to Rim to Rim, making the trek a 47-mile out and back experience.
The Narrows is one of Zion’s premier hikes. You can choose to do the 3.6-mile day hike or the 16-mile overnight trek. To do the 16-mile hike, you will be going from the top down into the narrowest part of the Virgin River. The hike begins at Chamberlain’s Ranch, and you’ll work your way down to the Temple of Sinawava.
This moderate hike in Olympic National Park seems truly wonderful! The locals refer to the Enchanted Valley area as the “Valley of 10,000 Waterfalls.” Hike into a real-life fairy-tale as you trek through mossy woodlands, cross streams and rivers, and emerge into spacious mountain meadows.
Located in Wyoming, the Grand Teton National Park is home to part of the Teton mountain range. There is an enormous amount of beautiful wilderness to be explored in this part of the United States, and the Teton Crest Trail is a fantastic introduction to the area.
This 16-mile backpacking trip will give you two nights in the Yosemite valley. The end goal is to summit Half Dome (which I’m not doing), all 8,842 feet of it. If, like me, you want to pass on the half Dome itself, there are plenty of other amazing aspects of the hike to enjoy.
Big Bend National Park is located in southern Texas. The Outer Mountain Loop is a 30-mile trek that combines Pinnacles, Juniper Canyon, Dodson, Blue Creek, and Laguna Meadows trails. You’ll hike through a variety of landscapes in the Chisos Mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert.
Want to avoid the crowd? Head to Isle Royale National Park, a remote island cluster on Lake Superior. It is close to the coasts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontario. Despite its proximity to other states and Canada, it is a Michigan National Park. Being a remote island on the largest freshwater lake in the world also makes Isle Royale one of the least visited National Parks in the United States.
I’m hoping to hit the Little River Trail this summer. It is approximately a 12-mile out and back trail in the Elkmont part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Elkmont is located in the Tennessee portion of the mountains. The trail itself is a reclaimed railway bed known for the river scenery, fireflies, and area history.